Washington (CNN) - Republicans continued assaulting President Barack Obama's administration over the implementation of the Affordable Care Act on Saturday, accusing the President of breaking his word and violating the trust of the America people.

In the weekly GOP address, Rep. Ann Wagner, R-Missouri, cited a "quietly-released report" from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services that claimed 11 million people would face higher premiums because of the healthcare law. The St. Louis lawmaker said this revelation is the latest piece of evidence that the Obama administration misled the public on how the President's signature piece of legislation would impact American families.

"As it turns out, the so-called ‘Affordable Care Act’ is not so affordable for American families after all," Wagner said.

"Not only is this another broken promise to 11 million people who will lose more of their hard-earned money," she said, "it’s another slap in the face to our already hurting middle class."

Wagner's bludgeoning of the administration over the Affordable Care Act signals Republicans intend to keep the law's failings in public view as the 2014 midterm elections draw closer. The GOP-controlled House is set to vote next week on legislation aimed at reducing the penalty for those who fail to buy health coverage in order to comply with the law.

For her part, Wagner demanded the President give American workers an explanation for the law's unintended consequences.
"Mr. President, you owe our 11 million workers an explanation," Wagner said. "Are you willing to look them in the eye and say that you stand by this law?"

While Wagner questioned Obama's resolve in vocally supporting the law, the President delivered a full-throated defense of Obamacare on Friday. Speaking to the Democratic National Committee's winter meeting, Obama told the Washington audience that, despite the "disruptions" in the ACA's rollout - including the much-maligned website debacle - the law is a success. The President also countered that the Republican fixation on blockading the law's progress bordered on farce.

"We've worked hard to fix problems that have come up, without any cooperation from (Republicans). In fact they complained when we fix them. Well, how dare you fix the things we were complaining about? And then we take steps to fix it. You're a tyrant; you're overreaching," Obama said.

The President fashioned a pricklier barb when the topic turned to the Republican's forthcoming 50th attempt to repeal the Affordable Care Act.

“You know what they say, 50th time is the charm. Maybe when you hit your 50th repeal vote, you will win a prize," Obama said.

Measureables on whether the law has accomplished its goals are decidedly more mixed.

The latest figures from CMS indicated some 700,000 people enrolled in Obamacare in February, raising total enrollment to roughly 4 million. With a little more than a month to go before the sign-up deadlines to get insurance this year expires, the administration will need a record month in March to reach its 6 million enrollment target.

Even as the White House works to hit its enrollment goal, the administration will likely face more Republican fire over newly announced subsidies to compensate some enrollees who got stuck in limbo. CMS recently announced those who could not enroll in state exchanges because of technical and other problems can receive financial assistance to help pay insurance providers. Individuals who had problems signing up for a plan during the eligibility determination phase and were unable to complete the enrollment process will now be able to apply for tax credits.

"We recognize that some states have experienced difficulties in processing automated eligibility determinations and enrollments, and we released guidance providing options to marketplaces to ensure eligible consumers have access to financial assistance and issuers are paid," CMS spokesman Aaron Albright told CNN.

Administration officials say the federal exchange already has a process in place to assist people lost in the eligibility determination phase.

soundoff(78 Responses)

Typical republican knee jerk reaction to any and all problems. Problems they are responsible for.

March 1, 2014 07:46 pm at 7:46 pm |

Jack

When is the GOP going to learn that we want to hear what's your idea.

March 1, 2014 08:47 pm at 8:47 pm |

jdun

So many Americans are thrilled to finally have health care- what is bad about that? How did Republicans help them get coverage? Not! You can now change jobs without losing health care? What a horrible thing! Businesses may now have to pay workers more to keep them because workers don't have to stay in one place to get health care- how horrible! This whole thing is very unAmerican and unfriendly to the business community- The next thing to happen may be cuts to CEO's and stockholders to pay workers! Never happen!

Anything that republicans are against simply means that it is a good thing.

March 1, 2014 08:59 pm at 8:59 pm |

Chris-E...al

I never thout for a min a madi wo0d jump 0ut of a well here at the h0meland ! wow !

March 1, 2014 11:02 pm at 11:02 pm |

Richard

Something is wrong if you have to threaten people to buy it, having the IRS come after them.

March 2, 2014 12:55 am at 12:55 am |

migeli

Who should you trust more with your health-care , the goverment or the head of some insurance company who gets millions a year to gyp the little guys.

March 2, 2014 01:04 am at 1:04 am |

CALIFORNIA

The ONLY reason this debacle passed congress is because democrats LIED like no one has ever before.

March 2, 2014 02:03 am at 2:03 am |

Jim Rome

I can't imagine being a Republican speech writer in 2016. What in the world will you write? What can the Republicans say? "We're furious about Benghazi even though there were 13 Benghazis under Bush!" Or they might try, "Obama is weak because he wont' start war anywhere!" Or simultaneously, "Obama is an overlord, using his veto and executive privilege like a maniac!" And then there are the speechwriter topics to avoid: 1) Christie's Bridgegate 2) Ted Cruz Republican Shutdown 3) Jan Brewer's Anti-Gay Hate Laws, 4) John Boehner's 45 repeal votes against ObamaCare.

These desperate Republicans have no support other than big business. They are big business. Republicans' campaigns are fully financed by big health, big oil, and big defense and they are now so separated from what the American people want, they have absolutely no platform, and no way to justify the obstruction that they've burdened this country with for the last five years.

#1 most conservative state in the United States of America, Alabama.
There is a church on every street corner of the morally bankrupt (plantation) state known as Alabama.
Of course...
They don’t need no stinking Obamacare.....just ask the crooked the elected officials there

Health care bills are the #1 reason for bankruptcy
the number of the un-insured went up for ten years consecutively from 2000 – 2010
health care cost went from 5% of household expenditures in 1960 to 18% in 2010
employer based insurance increasingly costs more with decreased benefits
45% in poverty are un-insured
75% of U.S. workers make under 35k/yr
In 2016, 25% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older.
They will require more and more health services as they become geriatric

March 2, 2014 04:05 am at 4:05 am |

sonnie3

The article to be discussed was the failure of Hussein obama and is none affordable healthcare tax that he is so proud off. If Hussein is proud of that fiasco, he best leave Putin alone. obama is out classed big time in world affairs. He needs more golf vacations to keep his mind clear. The more he golfs the better off America will be.

Oblunder Care is a Fiasco. That is the bottom line. 2014 will prove that.

March 2, 2014 05:08 am at 5:08 am |

MaryM

You know what is broken. Its the Broken Record from the right of constantly bashing the ACA while offering No Alternative. The majority of Americans are sick and tired of the GOPers bashing just like the Majority of Americans are sick of the fox fake news on benghazi

March 2, 2014 05:26 am at 5:26 am |

jerome

6 million?

"I think success looks like at least 7 million people having signed up by the end of March 2014," Sebelius told NBC's Nancy Snyderman.

March 2, 2014 06:42 am at 6:42 am |

Maria Rivera-Carvalho

GOP: Another lazy accusation about people that do the work while they do n othing but talk,antagonize and get a fat check for it. Someday they might realize that booze, laziness and hatred build nothing.

March 2, 2014 06:55 am at 6:55 am |

g

Republicans get out their nazi propaganda book for dummies

March 2, 2014 09:34 am at 9:34 am |

sammy750

hehe, The Republicans have no other agenda then to get rid of the AFC. They don't want the people of USA to be insured. This week, Speaker Boehner will take his 50th vote on the House floor to get rid of AFC. Fifty times Boehner has put a bill on the house floor to take away insurance for those that need it. Several states are not allowing people in their states to be insured. In Georgia, Gov. Deal is making an all out effort to keep his people from being insured. Eight hospitals have closed, because of emergency care of the uninsured. But Gov. Deal doesn't get it. The people of GA will defeat him in November.

Hey republicans,I haven't heard a single alternative in helping Americans with health care from you,total BS..Remember people it was Pres.Roosevelt that inacted SocialSecurity while president ,he a democrate and LB J also a democrate inacting Medicare ..So put your money,smarts where your mouth is with either helping or stay out of democrates way and the way I see it I'd rather have the latter myself,just shut up,stay out of it because with your involvement all you can do is make things worse,period...

March 2, 2014 09:51 am at 9:51 am |

Lost

GOP, and those who support them, you've not learned one lesson. A house divided will not withstand the storm. Offer constructive solutions that will help, not hurt. Rejoicing and pouncing onto every crisis just to trump it up into what you call "failure" is wearing everyone thin. Effective leadership doesn't equate the use of aggression or insults to coerce fellowship.

March 2, 2014 09:54 am at 9:54 am |

The HAM

Obama just needs to leave the Ukraine issue alone... he is way out matched on this one...

March 2, 2014 10:43 am at 10:43 am |

Dougtunh

Over 4 million get Obama care. 6 million lose their their insurance . 6 mil minus 4 mil = 2 mil less insured. How is that better?

I'm one of the 11 million people and yes, I do not and have not trusted this president. This wrongly named health care program is amateur at best. Now each month when I get my insurance bill, I get to pay $300 more per month for a policy which with $5,000 more in yearly deductibles, with higher co-pays. Thanks Obama. Thanks Anthem Blue Cross!

March 2, 2014 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

Mike in Texas

The ACA is a conservative Republican idea created by the Heritage Foundation. So of all these people attacking the ACA, my guess is they are attacking it because the President supported it. The Democrats wanted a single payer system, so to appease Republicans they decided to adopt the individual mandate. So basically all of you ACA/Obama haters are saying either 1. We like the law before Obama did or 2) you had no clue the individual mandate was a Republican idea. If you really think that the individual mandate is so crappy then you are admitting Republicans have no clue about how to handle health care. Those of you calling the ACA socialized medicine are very ignorant.

March 2, 2014 12:08 pm at 12:08 pm |

Mike in Texas

Republicans will keep voting to repeal the ACA. As long they have a majority in the house they will do so. If they are some how able to gain a majority in the Senate they will do the same and double down even more. What will happen at best for them is Obama will veto any bill sent to him that will repeal or defund or harm the ACA. It will take 290 house votes and 67 Senate votes to repeal the law. That ain't going to happen. Republicans, instead of passing symbolic legislation to repeal the law, why don't you work with Democrats on making the law better and quit trying to sabotage it. work on something positive for a change instead of things that suppress or deny or restrict peoples rights or choices.